Mortimer g



(No Model.)

M. G. MERRITT.

DIE FOR TRIMMING TYPE.

Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

r. Wanhinglou. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

MORTIMER G. MERRITT, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE YOST WVRITING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEV YORIQN. Y.

DIE FOR TRIMMING TYPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,001, dated March 19, 1889.

Application filed September 10, 1887. Serial No. 249,293. (No model.)

In an application filed by me March 24, 1887,

Serial No. 232,229, is shown, described, and claimed a method of making type; in another application, dated June 4, 1888, Serial No. 275,970, is shown, described, and claimed a type made by said method, and in another application, filed March 24, 1887, Serial No. 232,231, is shown, described, and claimed a means for making such type by said method.

The practicing of the method devised by me leaves upon the completed type adjacent to its base a disk or film of surplus metal which it is desirable to remove; and my present invention relates to means for effecting the removal of this surplus metal. For this purpose I employ cutting-dies whose peculiar construction will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings which accompany this specification and form a part thereof, Figure l is 0 an enlarged perspective view of a type to be operated upon. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same after the removal of the surplus metal. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a type of different contour of base to be operated upon.

3 5 Fig. 4: is a similar view of the same subsequent to the severance of the surplus metal. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the two cuttingdies employed to remove the surplus metal.

Fig. 6 is a bottom View thereof. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the other cutting-die. Fig. 8 is a top view thereof. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through said dies, illustrating their mode of operation upon a type having the disk of surplus metal. Fig. 10 represents in vertical section a modification of said cuttingdies. I

In the several views the same parts will be found designated by the same numerals and letters of reference.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 t0 9,

inclusive, A designates what may be conveniently called the upper die, and B the lower die. In practice I secure the upper die in a reciprocating holder in a drop or stamping press and mount the lower die upon an open platform or bed of such press, and although I prefer to operate the dies in this manner, it will of course be understood that they may be worked in some other way without departing from the gist of my invention, which, as will presently appear, lies in the construction of the dies. The upper die, A, is formed with a mouth or opening, a, preferably made tapering to correspond with the taper of the shank 2 of the type. This cavity or opening a, may extend all the way through the die, if desired, but it is not necessary that it should, the only requirement being that it shall be of sufiicient length or size to receive the shank of the typeto be trimmed, and thus permit the two dies to come together and effect the cutting 01f of the surplus metal, 3, of the type. The lower die, B, is formed or provided with a tapering perforation or opening, I), having a cuttingedge, and with which the die A co-operates to effect the severance of the surplus metal. This opening I) is shown extending entirely through the die, and While I prefer this construction, (for a purpose which will hereinafter appear,) it should be understood that it may extend only partially through, and sufficient merely to receive the bed or base 4 and the face or printing-character 5 of the type.

In the use of the dies A and B (shown at Figs.5 to 9 inclusive) the type is turned upside down and the bed (upon which the printing-character is located) introduced into the opening I) of the die B until the disk or film of surplus metal comes to a seat or bearing upon the body of the die surrounding the opening, as clearly illustrated at Fig. 9. The die A is then brought down forcibly upon the type and the surplus metal, 3, cut off close to the root of the bed 4 and separated entirely from the type. This is effected by the lower 5 part of the die A passing into the opening b of die B and thus shearing off the metal. Immediately this surplus metal is cut off the type drops through the opening 1) into a box or other receptacle placed beneath to I00 collect the finished type. The die A is then raised, the severed disk brushed aside, and another type to be operated upon placed in position, as before. It will be understood of course that the upper die is arranged concentrically with the shank 2 of the type when the latter is in position on the lower die, and that during the descent of said die A the opening (0 therein receives and accommodates the upwardly-projecting shank, and the type is thus centered and maintained in place while the cutting-operation is being performed.

In the modification of cutting-dies shown at Fig. 1.0 a construction is illustrated, in which the surplus metal is adapted to be removed while the type is supported in a different manner. The upper die, A, is formed or provided with a cavity or opening, a, and the lower die, B, with an openingor perforation, Z). The last-mentioned die is also provided with a raised support or flange, 0, upon which the under side of the base of the type rests, the surplus metal adjacent thereto projecting beyond laterally.

In the use of these dies the shank of the type is inserted into the opening I) until the bed of the type comes to a seat upon the flange c. The upper die is then brought down and caused to cut ofi the projecting surplus metal close to the root of the type-base. The opening a in the die A is made suliiciently large to receive the type-base and the flange 0 upon the die B during the cutting off of the surplus metal.

The main feature of construction, it will be seen, rests in forming or providing an opening in each die, one for the shank of the type and one for the bed; but it is not material in which die the shank-opening is made or in which die the bed-opening is made.

The dies shown in the drawings are adapted to operate upon a type such as shown at Fig. 1that is, one having a quadrilateral base. \Vhen, however, the type-base is made circular in contour, as represented at Fig. 3, or of other shape, it will be understood that the dies should be made to correspond, or so made as to cut oil the surplus metal without destroying the outline of the type-base.

At Figs. 2 and i are represented type as they appear after the removal of the surplus metal by the action of the cutting-dies.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a means for removin surplus metal from type, the combination of a die provided with an opening to receive the shank of a type and a die provided with an opening to receive the bed and face of a type, the said dies being thus adapted to be brought together and enabled to shear or cut oh": the surplus metal of the type, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Springfield, in the county of llampden and State of lVIassachusetts, this (5th day of August, .A. D. 1887.

MORTIMER G. M ERRIT'J.

Witnesses:

J. G. DUNNING, E. II. THoMrsoN. 

